The idea was to strap the baby to one of their backs and hike through the five national parks of
southern Utah. The Seals, a Bexley couple, spent months planning the trip.

What could go wrong?

They found out on Monday, during a trek through Zion National Park. As Devon Seal, husband Mike
and their 10-month-old son, Charlie, marched 8 miles and beamed for photos amid sloping rock, other
hikers were making plans.

“They were all sharing ideas for what to do should this happen,” said Mrs. Seal, 33.

It did happen. The federal government shutdown closed the national parks yesterday, putting an
abrupt end to the Seals’ plans to visit Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, and then head to Arches and
Canyonlands. When the couple woke up yesterday in St. George, Utah, they decided to check out a
state park instead.

Fortunately, Utah has 43 of those.

“We’re just getting ready to head out right now,” Mrs. Seal said yesterday by phone. “Certainly,
it’s a detour on our vacation, but it’s not the end of the world.”

She said her family will resume its national-park tour “if Congress decides to get things
together.”

It could be worse, Mrs. Seal said.

“I really feel for all of the government employees who are now on furlough.”